[HANASHIR:15404] Re: Dealing with Fools

[Dr. Alan Mason <dralanmason...>]

Dear Dr. Katz,
     Tell the conductor what a jerk he is. Tell the Cantor what a jerk the 
conductor is.  Tell the Rabbi and tell the President of the Temple.  Then 
make it your business to get rid of him.
     Dr. Alan Mason
     Musical Director
     Temple Israel
     Miami, Florida


>From: Edward Katz <eekatzmd (at) yahoo(dot)ca>
>Reply-To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
>To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
>Subject: [HANASHIR:15402] Dealing with Fools
>Date: Sun, 28 Sep 2003 17:33:56 -0400 (EDT)
>
>Shalom and Shana tova! I am looking for some advice on
>how to deal with an incompetent conductor. I was
>recently hired by the Cantor of a local synagogue, who
>wanted to revive their High Holiday Choir. He heard
>through the grapevine that I had recently left another
>synagogue choir, and was available to sing lead bass;
>I am a semi-professional singer, with reasonably
>extensive musical training. During the opening minutes
>of the first rehearsal, back in July, it became
>obvious that the so-called conductor whom the Cantor
>had hired was incompetent. He could not read a note of
>music, and had no clue on how to conduct. This was
>also apparent to  some of the other more experienced
>choristers. Nevertheless, the "conductor" attempted to
>teach us our parts by ear, since the mother of one of
>the younger choristers was available to play the
>keyboard.
>
>As the weeks went on, it became obvious that the
>"conductor" also had personality difficulties. He
>continually insulted the choristers, blaming us for
>not  singing our parts correctly. He arrived late at
>virtually every rehearsal, after urging us to be sure
>to arrive on time. His temper tantrums at almost every
>session resulted in several choristers yelling back at
>him; I myself could easily have been tempted to punch
>him in the face.  Nevertheless, I felt that I was
>obliged to honor my commitment to the Cantor, who is
>an excellent and very competent Chazzan. My basic
>option is to resign after the High Holidays and not to
>sing there again, unless the "conductor" is replaced.
>
>My dilemma is that I am constantly tempted to tell the
>"conductor" to his face that he is incompetent. In
>more than 30 years of choral singing, I have worked
>with our city's finest conductors (including Charles
>Dutoit, formerly of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra),
>as well as several fairly competent amateurs. I am
>unable to look the "conductor" in the eye, lest I
>become tempted to call him a fool. I still have to
>endure three more rehearsals this week, followed by
>the Kol Nidrei and Yom Kippur services, before I can
>quit.
>
>Has anybody out there ever been in a smilar situation?
>How did you handle it?
>
>
>Edward Katz, M.D.
>Montreal, QC
>
>
>______________________________________________________________________
>Post your free ad now! http://personals.yahoo.ca
>
>

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